UNC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

06/13/2026

PhD student end of semester check list:

💡Meet deadlines
📚 Cite sources
📍 Present in Prague

In Spring 2026, Division of OS/OT faculty member Dr. Micheal Sandbank and two PhD students, Gabi Faustino & Elyse Jenkins, attended the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) in Prague, Czech Republic.

Presentations included:

📊Panel, "Examining the Impact of Intensity in Early Intervention: New Findings and Future Research Needs" with Dr. Micheal Sandbank
📊Poster, "Predatory Publishing and Fraudulent Peer Review in Autism Early Intervention Research," with Dr. Micheal Sandbank, PhD students Gabi Faustino & Elyse Jenkins, and Layal Lawandos.

05/30/2026

🎓So proud of our scholar!🎓

The Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy extends well wishes to 2026 PhD graduate Dr. Sayoko Kawabata. Dr. Kawabata’s dissertation, “A Community Engaged Ethnography of Play in Fairview–A Historically Black and Multicultural Neighborhood in Hillsborough, North Carolina,” focuses on the occupation of play among children and youth in a historically Black and multicultural neighborhood in North Carolina.

Learn more about Dr. Kawabata:
🔗https://go.unc.edu/PhDStudentSpotlight

🎊Congratulations, we are sending well wishes for your next chapter!🎊

05/23/2026

Resilient, Empowered, Active Living with Diabetes for Families (REAL-Fam)✨

Researchers at the University of North Carolina and Creighton University are seeking caregivers of children with type 1 diabetes and their child, to participate in a new study that aims to improve child health, family participation, and quality of life. 🌱💪

Families must meet the following criteria:
🔖 Child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and not receiving occupational therapy services
🔖 Child is 2–11 years of age 🧒👧
🔖 Has reliable internet access 🌐
🔖 Lives at least 1 hour away from a pediatric endocrinology clinic 🏥 OR in a medically underserved area
🔖 Lives in North Carolina, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, or South Dakota 📍

Participants will receive:
✅ Continuous glucose monitor training
✅ 14-week supply of continuous glucose monitors ⏳
✅ 12 weeks of occupational therapy telehealth coaching 💻 OR 3 conversations/activities 💬
✅ $25 gift card for survey and interview participation (3 times total) 💵 — $75 total

Interested?
🔗 https://go.unc.edu/drwc
✉️[email protected]

05/15/2026

Brb, we're still California Dreamin'...😴

American Occupational Therapy Association - AOTA Inspire 2026 was a hit! From poster sessions to networking & celebrating award-winning work, we loved connecting with OTs from across the country.

See you next year! ✈️

05/12/2026

TONIGHT! Annual Ethics Event | Tuesday, May 12 | 7 p.m.

🔗https://unc.zoom.us/j/92743396584

Hope to see you soon!

04/30/2026

04/29/2026

✨Making the end of a busy semester fun! ✨

UNC MSOT c/o 2027 students celebrated OT month, the end of the semester & a sendoff for c/o 2026 students with a Spirit Week!

Days included:

😴Pajama day
🎓Undergrad day (wear merch from undergraduate institution) &
🪩Decades Day

Finish strong, UNC MSOT c/o 2026 & 2027!

04/28/2026

Thank you UNC Department of Health Sciences for the OT month feature! Check out the article highlighting the Division's own Dr. Vanessa Jewell & her research.

🔗https://go.unc.edu/2026DrJewellInterview

04/21/2026

Register today!

🔗https://go.unc.edu/2026EthicsRegistration

Annual Ethics Event | Tuesday, May 12 | 7 p.m.

Hope to see you soon!

04/13/2026

Get your orders in by April 15! Link closes 4/16/2026.

UNC's Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) spring apparel sale is happening now! Order UNC OT specific apparel until 4/16/2026. We are offering pick-up AND shipping!!

All proceeds go toward supporting SOTA educational events and opportunities.

🔗https://go.unc.edu/Spring2026SWAG